Take a maiden voyage

FANCY taking a cruise but don’t really know where to start? We suggest holidays afloat for first-timers.

Step back into the world of the ancient Greeks during a trip to Mykonos on the Aegean Odyssey []

GOLDEN OLDIES

Tour the ancient world on a cruise of the Greek Islands and Turkey with Voyages to Antiquity (0845 437 9737/www.voyagestoantiquity.com).

After two nights in Istanbul visiting Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the Archaeological Museum, join Aegean Odyssey and set sail for Santorini, Mykonos, Delos, Skiathos and Crete, with their Roman, Greek and Minoan ruins.

Shore excursions are included in the price and are led by historians. A day and night in Athens completes the experience. With just 350 passengers, life onboard is peaceful and grown-up. Experts deliver lectures on ancient myths and archaeology.

● A 10-night Isles of Greece cruise from £1,795pp (two sharing), full board. Price includes return flights from London, two nights pre-cruise hotel in Istanbul, excursions and most drinks. Departs Istanbul, April 15, 2013. Book before January 31 for this special offer price.

LAND AND SEA

If you’re unsure about going afloat, try splitting your holiday between hotel and ship. Virgin Holidays (0844 573 4398/www.virginholidayscruises.co.uk) has a large cruise and stay programme in the Caribbean.

It combines family-friendly hotels with seven-nights on new ship Disney Fantasy.

Spend a week at Disney’s three-star Port Orleans Resort (room only) where you can explore the Sassagoula River and eat Creole food in the French Quarter.

Then join Mickey for a cruise around the western Caribbean.

With pools and waterslides, sports courts, kids clubs and casual dining, this ship is very family-friendly. However, there’s also an adult-only pool, a spa and several child-free areas. Sailing from Port Canaveral you’ll visit Grand Cayman, Mexico and Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.

● A 14-night Disney Fantasy Stay and Cruise from £2,640pp (two sharing), full board on ship. Price includes return flights from Gatwick and car hire in Orlando. Departs July 27, 2013.

SHORT AND SWEET

Dip your toe in the water with a three-night cruise from your local port.

Fred Olsen Cruise Lines (01473 742424/www.fredolsencruises.com) is adding to its mini-cruise programme next year with departures from Liverpool, Harwich and Belfast.

Sailing from Liverpool, Boudicca will call at Belfast where maritime history lovers can visit the new Titanic museum and tour Queen’s Island where the liner was built.

Then it’s on to the scenic west coast of Scotland with a day in colourful Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. The island has beautiful sand beaches at Calgary.

A spacious, mid-size ship, Boudicca offers traditional service with British dining and entertainment and is popular with mature couples.

Celebrity Infinity will be based in Harwich, Essex, next year and during harvest season in September and early October will operate 12-night wine cruises. Taste your way around vineyards and wine cellars in Galicia, Rioja, the Douro Valley and Bordeaux, where there’s a chance to enjoy the rolling hills and chateaux.

There’s a large wine-tasting cellar on this Celebrity Cruises (0845 456 0523/www.celebritycruises.co.uk) ship too, along with a Martini Bar and the innovative Qsine restaurant, where dishes are ordered via iPad.

The Aqua Spa by Elemis offers everything from cellulite treatments to acupuncture.

Book an AquaSpa stateroom for unlimited access to relax in the Persian Garden.

Star-gazing north of the Arctic Circle is spectacular, and next year expert astronomers will be on select Hurtigruten (0844 448 7601/www.hurtigruten.co.uk) voyages giving lectures and guided viewings.

Dr John Mason is a regular on BBC’s The Sky At Night and will join an 11-night round voyage in November from Bergen to Kirkenes.

Hurtigruten’s coastal cruises are ideal for first-timers as they rarely lose sight of land and make frequent stops delivering essential supplies to remote communities. Ashore you can admire art nouveau-style Ålesund, go dog-sledging or drive a snow mobile. Life onboard is informal with open-seating dining and plenty of lounges to view villages clinging to the rugged coast, snow-clad mountains and the Northern Lights.